Surgical apparatus.



S. A. WILSON.

SURGICAL APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.7.I915.

1,287,549. Patented Dec. 10, 1918.

2 SHEET$SHEET L INVENTOR S/hc/ a/rA Wi/s on S. A. WILSON.

SURGICAL APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 7. 1915 1,287,549. Patented Dec. 10, 1918.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

f UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SINCLAIR A.- WILSON, OF PORTLAND, OREGON, ASSIGNOR TO WOODARD, CLARKE & CO., OF PORTLAND, OREGON, A CORPORATION OF OREGON.

SURGICAL APPARATUS.

Specification of'Letters Patent. Patented Dec. 10, 1918.

Application filed December 7, 1915. Serial No. 65,610.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, SINCLAIR A. Wlnson, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Portland, Multnomah county,

State of Oregon, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Surgical Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates *to surgical apparatus to be used in the application of beat treatments to diseased parts of the human body, and has particularly to do with treatments which require the use of definite temperatures applied for prolonged periods.

It has been found, in the development of therapeutics, that heat-and cold are germicides when used in proper strengths. Cer- Y ta'in pathogenic germs thrive best at about the normal temperature of the human body, and if this temperature is raised or lowered to the proper degree the germ will be killed.

The human skin and tissues are poor conductors of heat or cold, but it has been proven that heat or cold may be conducted into the tissues through the skin for a considerable distance. The skin of the average person ,will stand a steady application of heat at about 120 degrees Fahrenheit without injury 1 to the parts. Cold likewise may be made to penetrate quite deeply without injurious effect to the parts. The essential thing to observe, in the application of heat or cold treatments, is that the temperature applied paratus for such treatments, the function of be of-a predetermined and constant degree and the apparatus must be adapted to apply such treatment for the desired length of time. The instrument applied to the diseased part may be a poultice, bougie, sound, or any other instrument known to the surgical profession; and if the temperature of this instrument is maintained at the proper degree, the adjacent tissues will receive heat or cold by radiation and favorable results willensue.

One of'the main objects of my invention is to provide a convenient and efficient apthis apparatus being to maintain the poultice, bougie, sound, or otherinstrument at a constant, predetermined degree of temperature. Experience has shown that in asurgical apparatus of the kind considered, the circulation of the heating fluid must be promoted by suitable means, for which ahandoperated bulb-pump was heretofore provided,- But such means ha -tendency' to time, the attendant would be apt to tire and be less vigilant in the control of the apparatus.

In my improved apparatus I cause the circulation: to be constant by a mechanically operated circulation pump, thereby adapting my apparatus to be adjusted to a predetermined degree of heat and such degree maintained for any desired length of time by the automatic action of the apparatus itself. My improved apparatus is also serviceable for determining accurately the death point of bacteria.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is an elevation showing the gen: eral arrangement of the entire apparatus, a portion being shown in section; and Fig. 2 is an elevation, partly in section, of the details of my apparatus, and also incorporating an alternate construction of means for circulating fluid through the system.

Referring to the drawings, 41 represents a base of, insulating material, which in Fig. 1 is shown restingon a table. Said base is provided. with a recessed bottom 0, in which certain of the electrical wiring elements are concealed. Fixed onthe base, a, is a mountming d, which supports the fluid container, the latter consisting of a glass cylinder 6, provided with a removable top 7, and outlet and inlet nozzles 12, w. A tubular member h projects vertically from the mounting d, and carries an electrical heating element conductor 9, said tubular member being filled with insulating cement b. The mounting 03 is provided with a lateral recess 2', and a tapped hole, j connects the said recess with the interior of the cylinder 6. A tube 70, of material having a high co-eliicient of expansion, is threaded into said hole 7', and is provided at its upper end with a slot Z, adapted to receive a screw driver. A rod m, of glass or other material'having a low ooeflicient of expansion, is of smaller diameter than the inner diameter of the tube is, and

is arranged within the latter, being cemented at its upper end to the upper end of the tube k, as indicated by n. Said rod m extends downward below the hole j intothe recess A bracket 0 is adapted to be supported in the recess i, being insulated therefrom bythe. block of insulating materlal p. Said bracket is provided with a knife-edge bearingg and a lever r is fulcrumed on said bearing. The rod mis adapted to bear on the inner end of the lever'r, and the outer 'end of said lever projects outside of the recess i, and is provided with a contact point 8. A bracket is mounted on the base a,'sa1d bracket being provided with an adjustable screw u, with the point of which the contact point 8 is adapted to make electrical connection. Incandescent lights a: and y are mounted on the base a, the globes of these lights lbeing, preferably of different colors.

The sound :2, which is the instrument usedin connection with this apparatus, comprises concentric outer and inner tubes 3 and 4:. The outer tube 3 is closed at one end and provided at its other end with a connecting nipple 5. The inner tube 4, whichis open at both ends, eXtends almost to the closed end of the tube 3, and is provided at its opposite end with a connecting nipple 6. Flexible tubing 7 connects the nipple 6'with the outer nozzle 1) of the fluid container, and the flexible tubing 8 connects the nipple 5 with the sound, and twoconstructions are shown hereln either one of which may be used. In Fig. 1 a collapsible bulb 11 is located in the,

line of the tubing 7, said bulb being provided at its opposite ends with check valves 12, 13, adapted to work in opposite directions. lVhen the-bulb is squeezed, the water will be caused to circulate through the apparatus. For a more efficient, but also more expensive, type of apparatus, the pump 14, shown in Fig. 2, is used. Said pump may be located at any convenient point in the line of the tubing 8. The purpp 14; is driven by an electric motor 15, or any other convenient source of power may be used. The electrical connections are fully shown in the illustrations, and will be referred to in the following description of the general operation of my apparatus.

Let us assume that a heat treatment having a temperature of'120-degrees Fahrenheit is to be administered. The fluid in the' will be in contracted. state, and the rod m latter to contact with the screw 10. The conductors 16, 17 are first placed in circuit with the source of electricity, such, as by connect ing them with a lamp socket (not shown), and the circuit through the heating element conductor 9 will be. closed as follows: conductor 16, conductor 9, bracket 0, lever 7-, bracket 25, and conductor 17. It will also be noted that the lamp as, being connected across the line between the conductors 16. and 17, will always be energized so that the attendant may readily ascertain by looking at the apparatus whether the proper electrical connection has been made. When the temperature of the fluid in the container has reached the desired point, the expansion of the tube is will have elevated the rod m sufliciently to allow the lever 1 to rock clockwise, thereby breaking the contact of the latter with the screw u. Thisbreaks the cir cuit through the heating element conductor g. Upon' the-breaking of this circuit, the

, current will flow through the lamp 3 so as to energize the latter and thereby indicate that the heating element is inactive. The circuit through the lamp 3 is made as follows conductor 16, conductor 9, lamp 3 conductor 17. Said lamp y will not be energized when theiheating element conductor 9 is in circuit,

for the reasonthatthe lainp circuit offers a higher resistance than the element circuit.

When the pump 14 is to be used for creating a circulation, it may be placed in active state by closing the switch 18, whereupon the circuit of the motor 15 will be completed as follows: conductor 16, conductor-19, mo.- tor 1?, switch 18, conductor 20 and conductor 1 'will bear on the lever 1' so as to cause the When the temperature of the fluid' drops below the predetermined" point, the consequent contraction of the tube 70 will cause the rod on to bear on and rock the leverrr so as to again close the circuit of the heating element conductor a The temperature of the water at the sound a a device connected. with and heated by said circulatory system, and mechanically operated means in the circulatory system adapted to maintain the circulationrof the fluid constant.

2. In an apparatus of the character -de.

scribed, the combination of a fluid container, thermostatically controlled means for heating the fluid in the container, a. fluid circulatory system connected with the container, a device connected with and heated by said circulatory system, mechanically operated means in the circulatory system adapted to maintain the circulation of the fluid constant, and signals for indicating the action of the heating means.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a fluid container, thermostatically controlled means for heating the fluid in the container, a fluid circulatory system connected with the container, and mechanically operated means in the circulatory system adapted to maintain the circulation of the fluid constant.

* 4. In an apparatus of the character de scribed, the combination of a fluid con-.

, said source ofelectric energy, adaptedto drive said pump. 7

5. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a fluid container, thermostatically controlled electric means for heating the fluid in the container,

a source of electric energy connected with said heating means, a fluid circulatory system connected with the container, a pump in the circulatory system adapted to maintain the circulation constant, and an electric Inotor connected to said source of electric energy, adapted to drive said pump.

6. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a fluid container, thermostatically controlled electric means for heating the fluid in the container, a source of electric energy connected with said heating means, a fluid circulatory system connected with thecontainer, a device connected with and heated by said circulatory system, a pumpv in the circulatory system adapted to maintain the circulation constant, an electric motor connected to said source of electric energy, adapted to drive said pump, and signals for indicating the action of the heating means.'

7. In an apparatus of the character de-' scribed, the combination of a fluid container, a fluid circulatory system connected with said container, sald system including a de 7 Vice heated by said circulatory system, a

temperature indicating means located adjacent said device, thermostatic means for maintaining the temperature of the fluid constant, means for indicating the action of the heating means, and means for causing a flow of fluid through the circulatory system.

8. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a fluid container, a fluid circulatory-system connected with said container, said system including a device. heated by said circulatory system, a temperature indicating means located adjacent said instrument, thermostatic means for; maintaining the temperature of the fluid constant, means for varying the degree of temperature at which the fluid is to be maintained,-signals for indicating when the heating means is active or inactive, and means for causing a flow of fluid through the circulatory system.

9. In an apparatus of the. character described, a fluid container, a fluid circulatory system connected with said container, said system includin a hollow sound, a thermometer locate adjacent said sound, elec trical means for heating the fluid in said container, a thermostatically operated switch controlling the circuit of the electrical heating means so as to maintain. the temperature of the fluid constant, electric lights for indicating when the electrical heating means is active or inactive, and means for causing a flow of fluid through the circulatory system.

10. In an apparatus of the character described, a fluid container, a fluid circulatory system connected with said container, said system including a hollow instrument, a

thermometer located adjacent said sound,-

electrical means for heating the fluid in said container, switch means for controlling the circuit of the electrical heating means so as to maintain the temperature of the fluid constant, electric lights for indicating 'trical means for heating the fluid in said container, switch means for controlling the circuit of the electrical heating means so as to maintain the temperature of the fluidconstant, means for varying the degree of v temperature at which the fluid is to be maintained, electric lights for indicating when the electrical heating means is active or inactive, and a pump for causing a flow of fluid through the circulatory. system.

SINCLAIR A. WILSON. 

